Tens of thousands of people poured into Sha Tin tonight (December 31) to take part in the New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the carnival began at 8.30pm and runs until 12.15am on New Year's Day at Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza cum City Art Square.

French arts group Cie des Quidams is showcasing "Herbert's Dream", featuring enigmatic fantasy elves. These little white figures, on stilts, slowly transform into 4-metre-high illuminated giant elves. Accompanied by bewitching music, they perform a magic ritual to make a star rise up in the sky and take the audience on a dream-like journey. Cie des Quidams has performed at the World Cup in France in 1998 and at festivals in Edinburgh, New Caledonia, Spain, Switzerland and Holland.

A variety of delightful entertainment programmes are also being showcased, including tap dancers from Japan, local bands C AllStar and Supper Moment, magician Louis Yan and many other talented young artists performing music, dance, giant puppetry and wushu, creating a fascinating world for the countdown and celebrating the New Year.

In addition, famous local cartoons and animations such as "Older Master Cute", "McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten" and selected works by local animation makers are being shown. Carnival-goers are also participating in the light painting workshop and other interesting games to demonstrate their creativity and skills.

The carnival reaches its climax at midnight with the countdown ceremony accompanied by pyrotechnics from the rooftops of Sha Tin Town Hall and Sha Tin Public Library.